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Syrian soldiers dance to Usher in online video

The Associated Press

Updated:
02/07/2013 02:22:50 PM EST

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This image taken from video obtained from Ugarit News on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, purports to show Syrian soldiers dancing to Usher's hit song "Yeah!" The video posted online purportedly shows Syrian soldiers taking a break from the country's civil war by bouncing around to the American R&B star's hit song. In the clip uploaded to YouTube, a group of soldiers dressed in camouflage combat gear _ some carrying automatic rifles, others with rocket-propelled grenades poking out of their flak jackets _bob and sway to the music

Near the end of the video, they stop dancing and break into their version of an oft-heard battle chant in the Middle East: "With our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for you Bashar!" as black smoke billows from a building in the background. In a jarring finale, they shoot bursts of automatic gunfire in the air.

The video, which was allegedly filmed in southern Syria, appeared to be authentic and the uniforms consistent with those worn by Syrian soldiers. It appeared on both pro-regime social networking sites and anti-regime YouTube channels, as is normal for such material.

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